PhotographyBanzai.com

I've use a Sony Alpha A6000 and the PZ 16–50mm F/3.5–5.6 OSS kit lens with my computer as a webcam for a long time now. It's a lower cost option that has been very consistent outputting 1080p at 30 FPS to a USB based HDMI capture device. The kit lens is generally fine, but it has a few quirks. The biggest issue is that throughout the zoom range the maximum aperture value is not fixed. This introduces technical challenges when I want to show detailed views of product or similar use cases. There are also other considerations I'll talk about later in this article. So I decided to buy the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | C lens in E-mount as a replacement.  Links in this article are a mix of paid and through my affiliates. I earn from each in different ways. One is a flat fee and the others I earn from qualifying purchases. Considering them for your purchasing needs helps make the creation of this information viable!   I made a video unboxing the lens and trying it out with Open ...

Here’s my full video review of the the Nikon 28mm f/2.8 lens where I talk about using it with a Nikon Z5 camera at multiple conventions, events, and even nature photography.  Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 Overall, it’s a reasonable option if you are on a budget and want a larger aperture range plus internal focus compared to the kit lens. https://youtu.be/9ECYPd4L2Yg Check out the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28mm f/2.8 Lens through my affiliate links: Amazon B&H Photo Video Adorama Best Buy ebay Used on KEH Walmart As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! The 28mm on a Nikon Z5 camera body. This lens is compact and has the build quality of their NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 kit lens so that means a plastic mount. Not ideal, but feels sufficient enough. Don’t expect weather resistance from this lens as there is no back gasket. What the lens would look like in the two Z sensor formats. Besides the convenient and compact size, I like that the lens is completely internal focus. Thei...

I was curious how the two native Canon EF-M 56mm f/1.4 lenses compared. Is one better in image quality or features than the other? At least right now there is a significant price difference between the two. Check out the embedded video to see how it goes!  Sigma and Viltrox 56mm lenses Check out the YouTube video here : Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Canon EF-M: B&H: https://bhpho.to/3bNQUjk Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cC8pUb ebay: http://ebay.us/5Q3NxW Used on KEH: https://shrsl.com/2b947 Viltrox 56mm f/1.4 AF lens for Canon EF-M: Amazon: https://amzn.to/39sl5Pa B&H: https://bhpho.to/3nXMoF0 ebay: http://ebay.us/b4IRWE As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!  Here are the notes I wrote up while compiling data and deciding what I should mention in the video. Physical properties of the lens: The Sigma lens is shorter but thicker than the Viltrox.   Weight is 280g for the Sigma and 290g for the Viltrox. Sigma: 66.5mm x 59.5m...

Viltrox sent me the EF-M 23mm f/1.4 and 33mm f/1.4 (aka. the Canon EOS M system) lenses to make a video on. I will be keeping them, so look forward to future videos on these compared to other equipment I have on-hand. These lenses add to the few fast aperture native autofocus lenses available for the Canon EF-M mount. Viltrox EF-M lenses https://youtu.be/pKhf7FgLC-0 All of this information is based on firmware v1.0.5, which is the one installed in the lens upon release. Check out the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 AF Lens through my affiliate links: B&H: https://bhpho.to/34tulOU Amazon: https://amzn.to/31lk6Lw eBay: https://ebay.to/3je6OGJ Check out the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 AF Lens through my affiliate links:  B&H: https://bhpho.to/3d3xicN Amazon: https://amzn.to/37d2ohc eBay: https://ebay.to/2T42UWD As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!  The large maximum aperture gives you a lot of flexibility. In that video, the two focal lengths are compared side-by-s...

I’ve been wanting to try an all-in-one lens that has a full range of decently wide to full telephoto capability. That way when I don’t feel like bringing two cameras to make a video I can use the single lens with a camera like the Canon EOS M50. Knowing me I wanted to go as cheap as possible so I found it being sold on KEH bargain rated used for lens than half of the retail price. This is the EF mount version.  The lens adapted to EF-M. UPDATE: This lens is a bad option for adapting to EF-M. It has connection issues or some type of firmware issue. A video confirming issues I had adapting the lens… My related video on this lens. If you are curious about this lens, then check it out through my links (make sure you get the right lens for your camera mount because it is offered in Canon EF, Nikon F, and Sony A mounts): Used on KEH , B&H , Amazon , Best Buy , Walmart , and eBay .  As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!  The M50 in video mode from...

The Canon EF-M system can be a bit lacking in native lens selection. Thankfully, Sigma released their trio of APS-C DC DN prime lenses for this mount to help us have more options! I’ve been very curious to try them out for myself. After the 32mm focal length I’ve been looking for a decently telephoto lens with higher quality to fill that gap. Here is my video going over my first impressions and also quite a few tests. The 56mm from Sigma seems like a good native option. I decided to buy it and in this above video you all will get to see what I’ve learned so far. In the video, we take a look at the lens in detail from it’s design to how it works in practice. I also show various sample photos and do tests like video autofocus on the Canon EOS M50 along with the Canon EOS M5. Check out the Sigma 56mm through my link to B&H Photo Video . As an affiliate of B&H, I earn from qualifying purchases!  The Sigma 56mm attached to a Canon EOS M50. Specifications Lens Construction: 10 El...

I completely switched to the Canon EF-M system for now and wanted a “normal” 50mm equivalent lens. Canon just so happened to release this 32mm f1.4 lens! I received it yesterday and have spent the entire time working on this video. I’d say around 10 hours filming and editing. In that video I show you the lens close up and mention some of my initial impressions such as the 32mm having a very similar design compared to the 22mm f2 lens.  Canon EF-M equipment. Yeah, sadly even the extending inner barrel that I’m not a fan of. Probably the most unusual feature of this lens is the focus limiter switch that cuts focus from 0.5m to infinity. For the little bit of testing I’ve done here so far, it does help with the speed of focusing. When you use the full focusing range, this lens can focus pretty close. Get the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 Lens:  B&H: https://bhpho.to/2UL5ZhD Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SQb0QW ebay: https://ebay.us/LM74uQ   Used from KEH: https://shrsl.com/25lqw As a...

Wide angle lens decent for vlogging. Here is my Youtube video review: It’s an ultra-wide lens for APS-C sensor cameras. Under $300 new and even less used. There is a 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 that is also exclusively for APS-C cameras, but it’s around twice the price. The 35mm film equivalent focal length of this lens is 16-29mm. Equipment in this video and accessory suggestions for this lens (affiliated): https://kit.co/photographybanzai/canon-ef-s-10-18mm-f4-5-5-6-is-stm-review-gear My photos you can look at on Flickr (100% jpegs unedited): https://www.flickr.com/photos/photographybanzai/albums/72157695007325992 Physical features: * 67mm filter thread, which a standard size and nice to have. I use ND filters with this lens when I’m doing videos, so having a wide angle lens with a filter thread is extremely useful. * It has switches for AF/MF and OIS On/Off. * Plastic mount, but the benefit is low cost. You can find it even cheaper used, which is what I did. * 7 aperture blades (demonstrate if...

I recently made a video about firmware v1.03. There are improvements in auto-focus performance, especially in live-view mode. Here is a link to full sized example photos on Flickr: Flickr Gallery Link Here is a crop of one 100MM@f2 photo at 100% without additional editing: I’d personally consider that is producing a nice amount of detail, especially without any editing. There are a large number of factors involved from the distance to the subject to others like hand/shutter shake. The Youtube review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_vb97yTjN0 Notes I wrote up while making the review: From the manual it lists the lens as having 9 aperture blades and a minimum aperture of f19, which is confusing because both of my cameras go to f22. Minimum focus distance is 0.9 meters or around 3 foot with a 0.14 times magnification. This isn’t a lens you will be getting close focus and high magnification with! The lens comes with caps but no lens hood. It does have a 58mm filter thread, which is a sta...